Isn't a refrigerator just a refrigerator?

Stars and Standouts ~ pretty much when you’ve seen one refrigerator, you’ve seen them all. Sure you need to decide on price and features and door panels vs. painted finishes but mostly a refrigerator is a refrigerator is a refrigerator except when it’s a . . .

Smeg ~ www.smeg.com Ultra cool, retro refrigerator. Perfect for your mid-century classic, your 1930’s bungalow, your 1914 Craftsman, your 1932 brick Tudor or your wonderful Victorian. Loads of darling colors. Don’t you need a celadon refrigerator? OK, OK, how about poppy red? I especially like the fact that all the model numbers start with FAB!

At about $2000.00, it’s a lot of bang for your designing buck. If you need a big honker, this is not the refrigerator for you. But, if you need a show stopping design element for your kitchen remodel, it is way less than that $20,000 French enamel stove you’ve been lusting after. I mean really, when was the last time your friends said, “Wow, what a cool refrigerator?”

I'm staying with my rich cousin in the Hamptons. Tell me about his refrigerator.

The fully integrated refrigerator/freezer is the “rich cousin living in the Hamptons” of the built-in refrigerator. This is best suited for the custom, bespoke kitchen. It is completely flush and hidden behind full height cabinet doors.

It’s perfect for the right project and the client with the dough . . . lots of dough. And, staff would be nice.

Manufacturers include: Dacor, Electrolux, GE, Jenn-Air, KitchenAid, Liebherr, Northland, Thermador, Viking

Deciding on a built-in refrigerator / freezer?

The built-in refrigerator/freezer is the ultimate in luxury. It is also the most expensive of the refrigerator styles. You can expect to spend several hundred to several thousand dollars more than a comparable free-standing unit. As more and more of you are investing in the construction and aesthetic details of your kitchen, you are choosing built-in models for your refrigerator and freezer. For years, the design professionals’ choice was Subzero. With the boom in luxury construction of the past two decades, other manufacturers have entered the market.

Built-in refrigerator/freezer units blend with the custom cabinets. Because their depth was designed to be shallower than free standing refrigerators, the built-in units align with the cabinet faces and make a more seamless appearance. Because of the custom nature of this refrigerator, it has the widest range of interior options available.

Besides the extra costs involved in this purchase, keep in mind that should a replacement become necessary, cabinets may have to be retrofitted making the costs much higher than the replacement of a free-standing unit. Other than that, go enjoy your new sexy refrigerator!

The widths range for 36” to 72.9” + custom. The depths range from 22” to 25.9” + custom depths. The heights range from 69” to 84.9” + custom.

Tell me more about the freezer on the bottom refrigerator.

The bottom freezer style is the third type. It solved the “large tray” storage problem and puts fresh food at eye level. It is most like the built-in look of the more expensive brands like Subzero.

The freezer section is available in door or drawer configurations. You can expect better energy efficiency with a bottom freezer compared with a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer. Depending on the model and manufacturer, it is available with ice makers, ice/water/light in the door and various bins with adjustable temperature and humidity and lots of other bells and whistles.


The widths range for 19” to 48.9”. The depths range from 22” to 35.9”. The heights range from 63” to 84.9”.

Manufacturers include: Amana, Bosch, Dacor, Electrolux, Fisher Paykel, GE, Hotpoint, Jenn-Air, KitchenAid, LG, Liebherr, Maytag, Northland, Samsung, Thermador, Viking, Whirlpool

What do you need to know about a side-by-side refrigerator/ freezer?

The original style side-by-side refrigerator/ freezer available in both standard depth and counter depth was next. Depending on the model and manufacturer, this style is available with ice makers, ice/water/light in the door and various bins with adjustable temperature and humidity and lots of other bells and whistles. It is the preferred replacement model of choice as people transition from the top freezer model. Unfortunately, it continues to be a problem for storing large platters.

The widths range for 30” to 72.9”. The depths range from 22” to 35.9” + custom. The heights range from 63” to 84.9” + custom.

Manufacturers include: Amana, Bosch, Dacor, Electrolux, Fisher Paykel, GE, Hotpoint, Jenn-Air, KitchenAid, LG, Liebherr, Maytag, Northland, Samsung, Thermador, Viking, Whirlpool

The Classic Top Freezer Refrigerator

Generally, there are four major configurations preferred by American consumers. The original classic top freezer refrigerator was first produced by GE after the war continues to be the staple of the mass market American kitchen. It is an excellent value. It provides the largest amount of storage in the least amount of space at the lowest price. It is now available with many features found in more expensive configurations, such as: automatic ice makers, ice and water in the door and bins with adjustable temperature and humidity, gallon door storage, dual interior lighting systems, up front or illuminated temperature controls, ADA compliant.

It is the least expensive of all the refrigerator styles.

Depending on the model and manufacturer, upscale versions of this style have adjustable glass shelves, humidity controlled crispers, freezer baskets, deli and snack drawers, “supercool superfreeze”, wine rack, hidden hinges, full extension drawers, interior or exterior filtered ice and water, icemaker, adjustable door bins, electronic controls, custom overlay panels, self-closing freezer door, ADA compliant, gallon door storage, door alarm.

The widths range for 19” to 41.9” + custom. The depths range from 18” to 31.9” + custom. The heights range from 18” to 84.9” + custom.

Manufacturers include: Amana, Avanti, Danby, Estate, Frigidaire, GE, Gladiator, Hotpoint, KitchenAid, Marvel, Maytag, Northland (pricy), Smeg (who? See future post!), Whirlpool, Woods.

Uh oh! Is it time for a new refrigerator?

From the beginning, humans have tried to find ways to keep food, which was difficult to come by, fresh for longer periods. From using ice cold streams to cool dark caves to hiring runners to relay snow down the mountains to cool the drinks of rich nobles, to packing ice blocks in straw over the winter, people have tried just about everything to preserve their food.

From the powerless ice box through Thomas Edison’s lab, innovation led to the electric refrigerator then the frost-free freezer to new more energy efficient foams and better coolants to the newest possibility ~ magnetic refrigerators. Each generation has looked for new ways to advance the preservation of food ~ as well as a place to hang their children’s drawings.

Over the next few posts, let's look at the options.